What video format does iPad prefer?

Question

  I have tried mp4 and mov. files but I always get " can not download - video file is not supported by iPad" . The best part is, I can't even playback videos that are recorded from my iPhone. Any advise?

Answer 1

For iPad you can play video other than mp4 by:
1. Using third party player: such as OplayerHD Lite that maximum 720p such as Matroska container, FLV container,  AVI container.
2. Re-muxing the stream into mp4, it is possible if all stream such as x.264 / AVC / h.264 Video with AAC audio stream. Muxing only re-saving into other container, it takes 1 seconds to 15 minutes maximum for 1080p 2 hours movie.
3.  Re-encode the whole movie to mp4, this take 1 hour to 1 night, if the stream cannot be player by iPad spec.
For option 1: Clear enough.
For option 2 : [PC only - XMedia Recode], this you can view 1080p mp4 movie, take 1-10 minutes
Download and install Xmedia Recode and mediainfo PC.
Open the video, make sure the Video is AvC or H.264, or it needs to re-encode using Handbrake or Xmedia Recode, Check the audio, make sure is AAC 2 ch/6ch
Check the mp4 output, Custom format, sync audio/video
On the Video tab, check video copy if the video already on AVC or H.264. It will take minutes.
If it is not AVC or H.264 then uncheck the video copy to re-encode the video. And it will takes hours.
On the Audio tab, check audio copy if the stream already AAC 2ch/6ch. It will take secods.
If it is mp3, AC3, DTS , Ogg then it needs to re encode the audio, It will take minutes.
Insert the title as wish, Dont edit/crop if you are just mux / copy check the video.
subtitle muxing are not supported to be muxed using Xmedia Recode, nor multi audio streams.
Add job, Start. The mp4 will be delivered in secods or 10 minutes max if just mux.
If you have subtitle, or extracted from MKV, make sure has same name file and subrip srt mode.
You can mux subtitle and mp4 using Subler that available on Mac only.
You can add metadata, cover, chapter using iTunes or Subler.
You can view the mp4 without subtitle or m4v Subler result using Video app iPad, or
You can view the mp4 + movie subtitle srt using third party player like OplayerHD Lite with iTunes plugin on.
Please remember the 1080p MP4 needs Copytrans manager for transfer to the iPad Video app
For option 2 : [Mac only MKV input- Subler], you can have the 720p /1080p subtitled m4v for 1-10 minutes
Download and install Subler free and mediainfo mac free
Open the video, make sure the Video is AvC or H.264 MKV, if not you must using Handbrake to re-encode it.
Check the audio, make sure is AAC 2 ch/6ch using mediainfo mac, if it is AC3 will be converted easily using Subler.
On preferences Subler, check the jpg chapter, and encoding AC3 to Stereo AAC.
Import mkv streams to subler, after open the mkv.
If you have multi sound, make sure the first stream is AAC, and the Group Alternative is 1 for all audio streams. If not multi audio stream, just Set Group Alternative  to none.
If you have subtitle, or multi subtitle, make sure set Group Alternative to 2 for all subtitle, or 1 if the Audio Stream is none Group.
Add chapter if you wish, chapter should after subtitle streams.
Insert the title and cover as wish and others metadata as you wish
Save as m4v. Check both 64 bit if your file ouput was bigger than 2GB.
Optimize the m4v.
Please donate to the subler if it useful.
For option 3: Re-encode with Handbrake take long hours
Clear enough. With Handbrake you must re-encode the whole movie, but you can mux the soft subtitle also.